🏦 Introduction to COBOL
💡 What is COBOL?
-
COBOL = Common Business-Oriented Language
-
Developed in 1959 by CODASYL
-
High-level language made for business applications
-
Uses English-like syntax – very readable
📌 Used in: Banking 🏦 | Insurance 📄 | Finance 💰 | Government 🏛 | HR 👥
🔑 Why it matters:
Still runs core systems worldwide due to stability, scalability, and reliability.
📜 COBOL Timeline (Key Milestones)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959 | COBOL concept created (DoD + CODASYL) |
| 1961 | COBOL-61 released |
| 1962 | First COBOL compiler available |
| 1965 | COBOL-65 added mass storage & table support |
| 1968 | ANSI-68: First standardized COBOL version |
| 1974 | COBOL-74: Structured programming added |
| 1985 | COBOL-85: EVALUATE, CONTINUE introduced |
| 2002 | Object-Oriented COBOL released |
🧠 Key Insight: COBOL evolves with industry needs — still relevant after 60+ years!
🧰 COBOL Compilers: Evolution
🕹️ Early Days:
-
COBOL-60 to COBOL-74: Basic to structured logic
-
IBM’s OS/360, OS/VS COBOL paved the way
🧱 Mid Era:
-
VS COBOL II, COBOL-85: Better structure, performance
-
Used in IBM MVS & VM environments
🚀 Modern:
-
Enterprise COBOL for z/OS (3.x to 6.x)
-
High-speed performance, debugging, and modern tools
-
Y2K support & integration with DevOps tools
📌 Checkpoint:
Enterprise COBOL 6.x is widely used on today’s mainframes.
🌟 Key Features of COBOL
✅ Easy to Read
-
Uses clear, English-like syntax
-
Standardized and easy to maintain
✅ Business-Focused
- Designed for data processing (batch & online)
✅ Long-Term Support
- Proven reliable with ongoing IBM updates
✅ Enterprise-Ready
-
Scalable across platforms
-
Supports integration, testing, and automation tools
🔍 Remember: COBOL’s age = experience, not weakness!